Chuckwalla - Animal Facts and Information Chuckwalla Posted by BioExpedition | May 9, 2012 | Lizards | Chuckwalla Introduction to Chuckwalla The Chuckwalla is one of the larger species of Lizards. There are 5 subspecies of this Lizard that have been identified. They feature scales that are very course in comparison to other species of Lizards. Class Sauromalus Chuckwalla Description This species of Lizard has a very stocky build. They have a belly that sits very low to the ground. They also have a very thick tail that is scaly. They seem to be overweight due to the fact that they have folds of skin that hang around the neck and along the sides of their bodies. The colors of the Chuckwalla vary depending on the region where they live. Some of them are gray while others look muddy brown. They feature colored areas of red, yellow, pink, and orange. These color patterns make it easier for them to blend into their surroundings. Chuckwalla Distribution The main location where you will find this species of Lizard is in the arid areas of the United States. They are also found in the Northern portion of Mexico.

Large numbers of the Chuckwalla reside in the Mojave Desert. They are found in the warmer areas including California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. This particular Lizard enjoys areas that are rocky and they will find food and shelter among the many crevices. They also use the rocks for a place to bask in the sunlight during the heat of the day. They know that they can quickly scurry to hiding if they feel any signs of danger. Chuckwalla Behavior They are very territorial, especially the males. The Chuckwalla excretes scent through the glands and this helps them to market their territory. The males do tolerate females that overlap their home range but not other males. When they feel that they are at risk of danger they will go to a crevice and hide. Then they are able to inflate the body to help them look larger. That will often scare away any potential predator that has followed them. This Lizard hibernates from around October until February. The exact period of time for hibernation though depends on the region. They hibernate by slowing down their metabolism and body functions so that they aren’t negatively impacted by the cooler temperatures .

Chuckwalla – Genus Sauromalus / Photo Taken by Luhrs Nick Chuckwalla Feeding The Chuckwalla is a herbivore and they will consume various types of plants. During certain times of the year they will consume fruits and plants that grow in their habitat. Sometimes they will resort to consuming insects though if they can’t find enough vegetation for them to rely on. They tend to feed early in the morning and then the rest of the day is spent enjoying the sunlight. Chuckwalla Reproduction Males are attracted to the females due to the stronger scent that they distribute from their glands at times. April through July are the most common months for mating. That is due to the amount of food that is offered during that period of time too. The males will move on to find other females for mating. They may have to fight with each other for the right to do so. The job of the female is to find a place to create a nest. She needs a warm location for the eggs that will also be safe from predators. The eggs are deposited into the nest as late as August. They will remain in the nest for about 1 month before they emerge.

The young have to be able to care for themselves as soon as they come out of the eggs. Their mother will be no where around the nest once she lays the eggs. Each clutch may have from 5 to 16 eggs in it. Chuckwalla Facts and Information / Photo Taken by Adrian Pingstone Chuckwalla Facts Chuckwalla Facts Chuckwalla Facts Chuckwalla is a type of large lizard that belongs to the family of iguanas. There are 5 species of chuckwalla that can be found in the southwestern parts of the North America and in the northern parts of Mexico. Chuckwalla inhabits deserts (Mojave and Sonoran deserts), rocky areas, hillsides and lava flows. Since it inhabits remote and inhospitable places, chuckwalla is protected from negative human activity (including over-collecting from the wild due to pet trade). Population of chuckwalla is large and stable in the wild. Chuckwalla is not on the list of endangered species. Interesting Chuckwalla Facts: Chuckwalla can reach 16 inches in length and 2 pounds of weight. Males are larger than females. Head, shoulders and limbs of males are black-colored.

Dorsal side of the body can be red, pinkish, yellow, orange or grey in color, depending on the habitat. Females and young males are yellowish grey. Their bodies are covered with spots and light-colored stripes. Tail of young animals is covered with dark bands. Chuckwalla is able to change the color of the body to blend with colors of its environment. Body coloration also depends on the mood of an animal and outer temperature. Chuckwalla has stocky body with large, low positioned abdomen. It has thick tail that is wide at the base and blunt at the top. Tail is covered with tough scales. Skin has sandy texture. Loose folds of skin around the neck and on the lateral sides create impression of much larger body. Chuckwalla is diurnal animal (active during the day). Chuckwalla basks in the sun during the day to increase body temperature and gain energy required for everyday activities. Chuckwalla is herbivore (plant-eater) that occasionally consumes insects. Majority of its diet is based on creosote bush, fruit, leaves and desert flowers. Natural enemies of chuckwalla are large mammals, snakes, raptors and humans.

When faced with danger, chuckwalla seeks protection in the tight crevices of rocks. It inflates the body (thanks to flaps of loose skin) and fills entire space, thus disabling predators to pull it out. Chuckwalla is territorial and solitary animal. Males release scent from the pores in their thighs to mark their territory. Chuckwalla undergoes brumation (type of hibernation characteristic for cold-blooded animals) from October to March, when temperature is low and food is scarce. Mating season of chuckwallas takes place from April to July. Females mate only during the rainy years (when food is abundant). They lay 5 to 16 eggs in the nests in the ground. Incubation of eggs lasts 72 days. Hatchlings are left on their own from the moment of birth. Chuckwalla reaches sexual maturity at the age of 3 to 4 years. Chuckwalla can survive 15 years in the wild and up to 25 in the captivity. Related Links: Chuckwallas - DesertUSA Chuckwallas Sauromalus ater Strictly herbivorous, the chuckwalla eats fruit, leaves, buds and flowers.

When the chuckwalla senses danger, it scurries between rocks and lodges itself tightly in crevices by inflating itself. In the common chuckwalla, depending upon the population, male coloration may include black head, forelegs and upper trunk, and reddish-yellow toward the rear or a showy bright red body. Females are usually a much less showy gray or brown with little pattern. The young, however, are usually quite striking with a dark background color and yellow bands around the body and down onto the tail. Range Mojave and Sonoran deserts of southeastern California, southern Nevada and Utah, western Arizona and south to Sonora, Mexico and the mainland and islands of Baja. Habitat Open flats and rocky areas, often near large rocks and boulders. Description There is only one species of chuckwalla that inhabits the Southwestern deserts: the common chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater). The San Esteban Island (or piebald) chuckwalla (Sauromalus varius), the largest of all the chuckwallas, inhabits only San Esteban Island and Isla Roca Lobos in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California).

The piebald chuckwalla has a gray-to-black face, with same-colored splotches over its entire body, which is tan to yellow. There has been a study going on for years at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum involving San Esteban Island chuckwallas, where there is a large breeding colony. Among other things, the behavior and reproductive biology of these impressive lizards is being studied there. There is another Baja Island form which is quite distinctive, Sauromalus hispidus, the spiny chuckwalla. This species lives on Isla Angel de la Guarda and several smaller islands near Bahía de Los Angeles. What makes this animal very different is its spiny tail. All other chuckwallas have a much smoother tail. Sauromalus ater is the name presently given to all chuckwallas living in our Southwestern deserts. All of the former subspecies of S. obesus are now included in the single species, S. ater. These large, plump lizards have loose folds of skin around the neck and shoulders. They have a thick blunt tail and grow 11 to 18 inches long.

These diurnal lizards emerge in the morning and, before seeking food, bask in the sun until their optimum body temperature of 100 - 105 degrees F. is reached. BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Sauromalus ater, Northern Chuckwalla: INFORMATION Skip directly to main content . Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species Sauromalus ater What do they look like? Common chuckwallas are stout lizards with skin folds near the neck, shoulders, and stomach. They have five digits on each limb and the tail thicker near the body and rounded at the tip. Common chuckwallas come in various colors, depending on where they live, temperature, and mood. Their heads are usually darker and are dark brown to yellow. Males are slightly larger than females and males tend to be darker in color, overall, than females or young common chuckwallas. They have a snout to vent length of 80 to 197 mm and weigh from 24 to 315 grams. Their tails are about half their body length. Other Physical Features sexes colored or patterned differently male more colorful 6.38 in Where do they live?

Common chuckwallas are found in deserts in the western United States and Mexico and 30 known islands in the Gulf of Mexico. They can be found as far west as southeastern California and Nevada, and are abundant in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and parts of Colorado. ( Hammerson, 2007 ; Hollingsworth, 1998 ; Johnson, 1965 ) Biogeographic Regions native What kind of habitat do they need? Common chuckwallas are found in deserts with rocks and crevices for hiding, such as areas of past lava flows, rocky hillsides, and outcrops. They use underground burrows and crevices for hibernation in the winter. Common chuckwallas can be found between sea level and 1400 m elevation. ( Cliff, 1958 ; Hammerson, 2007 ; Johnson, 1965 ; Montanucci, 1997 ) These animals are found in the following types of habitat 0.00 (low) ft How do they grow? Females lay eggs in an underground nest and the young hatch after about a month, after which they are independent.

Common chuckwallas grow at a rate of about 17 mm a year. They reach sexual maturity at around ages 2 or 3. Growing to adult size takes about 25 years, after which they continue to grow but at a significantly decreased rate of about 5.5 mm a year. Their rate of growth is determined by temperature and food abundance, they grow more and shed their skin during the spring and summer, when food is plentiful and it is warm. ( Hammerson, 2007 ; Johnson, 1965 ) Development - Life Cycle indeterminate growth How do they reproduce? Common chuckwalla males use head-bobbing, licking, circling, nudging, jaw-rubbing, and other methods to persuade females to mate. They generally mate with several females that are found within their territory. Mating usually takes place in the early spring after hibernation. ( Montanucci, 1997 ; Nagy, 1973 ) Mating System polygynandrous (promiscuous) Common chuckwallas breed between April and August when food is most abundant.

Females lay from 5 to 16 eggs each year or every other year, depending on food availability and rainfall. Females incubate the eggs until they hatch, after about 35 days. Males reach sexual maturity when they reach a 125 mm snout-vent length, or at about 2 years old. Females reach sexual maturity at the same length, but may take 2 to 3 years to reach that length. ( Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Education Volunteers, 2008 ; Johnson, 1965 ; Montanucci, 1997 ) Key Reproductive Features oviparous How often does reproduction occur? Common chuckwallas may not breed every year, but they breed in years of heavy rainfall and abundant food. Breeding season Breeding takes place from April to August. Range number of offspring Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 2 to 3 years Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 2-3 years Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 2 years Females prepare an underground nest in an area with dry soil that is unlikely to be disturbed.

Females protect their eggs from predators and other threats while they incubate. However, after hatching, females no longer care for their young. Males do not provide parental care. ( Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Education Volunteers, 2008 ; Hammerson, 2007 ; Johnson, 1965 ) Parental Investment female How long do they live? Common chuckwallas live 10 years or more in the wild. The oldest known common chuckwalla in the wild was 30 years old. The oldest common chuckwalla in captivity lived to 65 years old. ( Abts, 1987 ; Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Education Volunteers, 2008 ; Johnson, 1965 ; Montanucci, 1997 ; Sullivan and Sullivan, 2008 ) Range lifespan 15 years How do they behave? Common chuckwallas are solitary and diurnal. They leave rock shelters during the day to eat foliage, but remain close to their shelters. They are active from mid-March to mid-August, but may aestivate in the summer months when food is scarce.

From November through March they may go through brumation (similar to hibernation). To prevent overheating, they move in and out of the shade and assume different orientations towards the sun. Most of their time is spent basking on rocks when they are not looking for food. They retreat into crevices and shallow holes during the hottest portion of the day and use these crevices to avoid predators. Key Behaviors 1000 to 7000 m^2 Average territory size 3500 m^2 Home Range Male home ranges are typically larger than female home ranges and do not overlap with those of other males. Females have smaller home ranges, so that male home ranges generally overlap with those of several females. How do they communicate with each other? Not much is known about communication and perception in common chuckwallas. They are solitary, so most communication happens during the mating season, when males compete for mating opportunities and females choose males. When looking for food, common chuckwallas use chemical cues (smell and taste) to decide what to eat. They have acute eyesight and perceive movement within 30 m. Their sense of hearing is not well-developed.

( Cooper and Al-johany, 2002 ; Johnson, 1965 ; Montanucci, 1997 ; Sullivan and Kwiatkowski, 2007 ) Communication Channels chemical What do they eat? Common chuckwallas are herbivores, eating leaves and fruit and occasional insects found on the plants they eat. They eat leaves and the fruit of creosote bushes, browneyes, and desert ragweed. In captivity they are fed various greens, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. They obtain water from the plants they eat. Primary Diet flowers What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten? Common chuckwallas are experts at detecting and evading predators. They hide in crevices and rocks when they feel threatened or scared. Tight holes and crevices between rocks are inaccessible to larger predators and common chuckwallas take refuge in those crevices to escape predators. Once in the crevice, they inflate their lungs to wedge themselves even tighter against the rocks and they position the tail towards the crevice opening and against their body for added protection. Their neutral-colored scales serve as camouflage in their desert landscapes.

( Cooper Jr., et al., 2000 ; Hollingsworth, 1998 ) These animal colors help protect them Mojave rattlesnakes ( Crotalus scutulatus ) What roles do they have in the ecosystem? Common chuckwallas eat plants and occasional insects and may impact their habitats through their feeding, they are also preyed on by their predators and act as hosts for several mite species and other parasites. ( Montanucci, 1997 ; Nagy, 1973 ) Commensal or parasitic species (or larger taxonomic groups) that use this species as a host Saurian malarial parasites (Plasmodium mexicanum) mites (Hirstiella pyriformis) Common chuckwallas are shy and solitary and don't harm humans. ( Nagy, 1973 ) How do they interact with us? Humans keep chuckwallas as pets. Currently, Nevada is the only state that allows commercial pet collection because of the large population there.

( Brodie, Jr, et al., 2003 ; Montanucci, 1997 ; Nagy, 1973 ) Ways that people benefit from these animals: research and education Are they endangered? Common chuckwalla populations are protected by national parks and naturally protected due to their remote habitat (rugged terrain and harsh climate). Trends towards developing desert areas of of the United States and parts of Mexico are affecting common chuckwalla habitat; however the population status as a whole has been reported as large, and stable. Populations throughout most of their range are considered stable. ( Hollingsworth, 1998 ) Some more information... Contributors Tanya Schultz (author), Radford University, Karen Powers (editor), Radford University, Tanya Dewey (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. References Amer. Suppl. 1996. Influences of environmental conditions on life history tactics of herbivorous Mojave Desert lizards. Bull. Ecol. Soc., 77/3: 446 (abstr.). Abts, M. 1987.

Environment and variation in life history traits of the chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus . Ecological Monographs, 57: 215-232. Brodie, Jr, E., T. Edwards, Jr, P. Ustach. 2003. "Status of distribution, populations, and habitat relationships of the common chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus , in Nevada" (On-line pdf). Division of Wildlife, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State of Nevada. Accessed December 04, 2013 at . Cliff, F. 1958. A new species of Sauromalus from Mexico. Copeia, 1958: 259-261. Cooper Jr., W., J. Van Wyk, P. Mouton, A. Al-Johany, J. Lemos-Espinal, M. Paulissen, M. Flowers. 2000. Lizard antipredatory behaviors preventing extraction from crevices. Herpetologica, 56: 394-401. Cooper, W., A. Al-johany.

2002. Chemosensory responses to foods by an herbivorous acrodont lizard, Uromastyx aegyptia . Journal of Ethology, 20.2: 95-100. Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Education Volunteers, 2008. "Desert Chuckwalla" (On-line). Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Accessed November 15, 2013 at . Hammerson, G. 2007. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2" (On-line). Sauromalus ater . Accessed September 11, 2013 at . Hollingsworth, B. 1998. The systematics of chuckwallas ( Sauromalus ) with a phylogenetic analysis of other iguanid lizards. Herpitological Monographs, 12: 38-191. Johnson, S. 1965. An ecological study of the chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus Baird, in the western Mojave Desert. Amer. Midl.

Nat., 73/1: 1-29. Lappin, A., P. Hamilton, B. Sullivan. 2006. Bite-force performance and head shape in a sexually dimorphic crevice-dwelling lizard, the common chuckwalla [ Sauromalus ater (= obesus)]. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 88/2: 215-222. Macey, J., T. Papenfuss. 1991. Reptiles. Pp. 291-360 in C Hall, ed. Natural History of the White-Inyo Range: Eastern California. Berkeley, California: Univ. Calif. Press. Montanucci, R. 1997. Captive management, behavior and conservation of chuckwallas, Sauromalus obesus (Lacertilia: Iguanidae ). Bull Chicago Herp. Soc., 32/6: 121-127. Nagy, K. 1973. Behavior, diet and reproduction in a desert lizard, Sauromalus obesus .

Copeia, 1973/1: 93-102. Sullivan, B., M. Kwiatkowski. 2007. Courtship displays in anurans and lizards: theoretical and empirical contributions to our understanding of costs and selection on males due to female choice. Functional Ecology, 21/4: 666–675. Sullivan, B., K. Sullivan. 2008. Common chuckwalla ( Sauromalus ater ) populations in the Pheonix metropolitan area: stability in urban preserves. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 3/2: 149-154. Zimmerman, L., C. Tracy. 1989. Interactions between the environment and ectothermy and herbivory in reptiles. Physiological Zoology, 62/2: 374-409. Chuckwalla - Louisville Zoo Louisville Zoo Utah, Nevada, Arizona, southeastern California south to northern Mexico. HABITAT Open flats and rocky areas, especially where large boulders are present.

SIZE 10 – 16 ½ inches long; second largest lizard in North America. LIFE EXPECTANCY Chuckwallas may live for 25 years or more. DIET Wild: Strictly herbivorous, it browses on leaves, buds, flowers, and fruits. Favorite food is blossoms from prickly pear and creosote bushes — prefers yellow blossoms. Zoo: Shredded lettuce, sweet potato, carrots, grapes and meal worms. REPRODUCTION Mate May to June. Females lay 5 – 10 soft-shelled, white eggs in June to August. Females lay eggs only every two years. Females mate with several males to ensure fertilization. BEHAVIOR Diurnal Basks until preferred body temperature of 100 degrees is reached, then begins searching for food. Each Chuckwalla has a home range. Males will not cross over boundaries, although females will cross over to breed. As temperatures rise, they go below ground and aestivate; in cooler weather, they hibernate. A frightened chuckwalla retreats into a rocky crevice and wedges itself in sideways by inflating its body.

By expanding the lungs, the chuckwalla can increase its volume by half again its normal size. When pulled backwards, scales catch on rocks making pulling difficult. POINT OF INTEREST Large lizard with loose folds of skin around the neck and shoulders. Tail is thick at bas and blunt at the tip. Limbs are stubby, scales small and granular. Natural enemies are the coyote, large-eared kit fox and birds. STATUS Common Chuckwalla - Sauromalus ater Common Chuckwalla - Sauromalus ater Adult male, San Diego County Adult male, San Diego County Adult, Inyo County Adult male, San Diego County Adult, wedged into a crack, Inyo County. The dark body matches its dark lava rock habitat.

Adult female, San Diego County Adult male, San Diego County Adult male, San Diego County Adult emerging from crevice to bask, San Diego County Adult male, San Diego County Adult, Inyo County Dark adult male on top of tall lava outcrop, Inyo County Adult male, San Diego County Adult male, San Diego County Adult, Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County © Todd Battey Adult male from lava fields in San Bernardino County © Patrick Briggs Adult male with adult female, from lava fields in San Bernardino County Adult male, San Diego County Adult male, San Diego County Light-colored adult from pale sandstone habitat, San Diego County Adult male, San Bernardino County © Adam Clause Adult male, San Diego County Adult, emerging from rock crevice, San Bernardino County Adult, Mono County © Keith Condon Adult, San Bernardino County Chuckwallas have a back covered with granular scales. Hatchling from dark volcanic rock habitat, Imperial County © Stuart Young Juvenile, San Bernardino County Juvenile in April, San Bernardino County © Lady Li Andre Chuckwallas in Native American Culture A Chuckwalla hook on display at the Death Valley National Park Visitor Center. When threatened, a Chuckwalla typically escapes into a rock crevice.

If a predator attempts to pull it out, the lizard will use its rough skin and strong claws to wedge itself tightly into the crevice, sometimes inflating with air to further increase its pressure against the rock. The tool shown above - a sharpened stone attached to a stick - was used by Native Americans to pull a Chuckwalla from a crevice. The sharp angled stone impaled the lizard forcing it to release its pressure against the rock allowing it to be pulled out of the crevice. The Chuckwalla was later cooked and eaten or possibly dried and smoked to preserve the meat for later use. See below for more information about how Chuckwallas were prepared and eaten. Todd Battey took these pictures in the Coso Range in southern Inyo County, an area known for its extensive Native American pictographs by the Piute tribe. The large rock contains paintings of deer and bighorn sheep on one side, and human-like forms on the other, including what looks to be a large lizard (the painting is 1.5 feet long) which is certainly a Chuckwalla, considering the importance of this large lizard to these desert inhabitants.

Short Videos A large old male chuckwalla gets some sun, does some pushups, eats some bushes, then poops. A Chuckwalla emerges from its crevice and does a territorial push-up display. From a wide view of its habtat, we zoom in on a Chuckwalla high on top of a rock. Chuckwallas in the San Diego County desert, including one that crawled up into a bush to eat some flowers. A Riverside County chuckwalla runs across a sandy wash into thick vegetation next to a spring and a San Diego County chuckwalla displays on top of a large rock outcrop. There are more pictures of this species and its habitat on our Southwest and Baja California pages. Description 5 - 9 inches long from snout to vent (12.7 - 22.8 cm). (Stebbins 2003) The second largest lizard native to the United States (after the Gila Monster). Appearance A large, flat-bodied lizard with a large rounded belly, and a wide-based blunt-tipped tail. The neck and sides of the body are covered with loose folds of skin. Scales are small and granular. Tail will regenerate if detached. Males have enlarged femoral pores.

Color and Pattern Color can be black, reddish, gray, brown, yellow, or tan. Color changes with age and varies with the color of the habitat. Some individuals have red torsos. The tail and sides are light gray or cream, sometimes reddish. Male / Female Differences Males have dark, usually black, head, chest, and limbs, with red, black, or yellowish backs. Sometimes the dark coloring is covered with light spots and flecks. Females usually retain some of the juvenile body and tail banding. Young The body and tail of young chuckwallas are more prominently banded with dark and yellow coloring. Life History and Behavior Activity Diurnal. Rock-dwelling, sheltering in rock crevices or under rocks. Rocks, especially large outcrops and boulder piles, are used for basking. Chuckwallas are often seen in the morning basking on a large rock pile. After basking, they leave the rocks to forage for food. Most active from spring through fall, remaining inactive in deep rock crevices during the cold of winter, but may be active all year in warmer areas. Also retreats into rock crevices during extreme heat.

Defense When disturbed, a chukwalla will retreat quickly into a rock crevice, inflating its body with air and using its strong claws and rough skin to tightly wedge itself into the crevice to make extraction difficult. Diet and Feeding Eats a variety of plant leaves and flowers and fruit, including creosote bush flowers. Occasionally eats insects. Breeding Breeds from April to June. Females lay 5 -16 eggs from June to August. Females may only lay eggs every two or three years. Eggs hatch in late September. Use as Food for Humans Gifford, E. W. 1936. Northeastern and Western Yavapai. University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology. Vol. 34, No. 4.pg. 26 "Extracted from rock crevices by sharp stick twisted into skin; seized by tail and struck against rock to kill. Cooked in hot ashes, either gutted or ungutted." Jaeger, E. C. 1950. Our Desert Neighbors. Stanford University Press.pg.

220 "One day long ago, while traveling through the southern Nevada deserts, I came upon three Paiute Indians camping in a rocky gorge. It was late afternoon, and they were sitting around a fire cooking up a half-dozen large chuckwallas in an iron kettle. They had not taken the trouble either to behead or to skin the creatures and as I looking into the boiling pot I had only a feeling of repugnance for food... ...The Indians said they would remove the skin when they ate the lizards." Wallace, W. J. 1978. The Chuckwalla: A Death Valley Indian Food. The Journal of California Anthropology. Malki Museum, Inc., Morongo Indian Reservation, Banning, California. Geographical Range Ranges from southern California south into Baja California, and east of California into southern Nevada and Utah, through eastern Arizona and south into Sonora, Mexico. Widely distributed throughout the Mojave and Colorado deserts in California, from the desert slopes of the mountains, north through the Owens Valley and east to the Colorado River. The first Mono County record and a northern range extension was documented in the West-central White Mountains in 2016.

Herpetological Review 47(2), 2016 Sea level to around 6,000 ft. (1,800 m). Habitat Inhabits rocky flats and hillsides, lava flows, and large outcrops in the California Mojave and Colorado deserts. Creosote bush is found throughout most of its range. Although primarily associated with natural rock piles, Chuckwallas have also been observed inhabiting atypical places such as burrows in dirt, piles of railroad ties, and artificial rip rap. Notes on Taxonomy After examining variations in Sauromalis Hollingsworth (Herpetological Monographs 12: 38-191, 1998) changed the name from Sauromalis obesus to Sauromalis ater. He concluded that there are five species of Sauromalis and did not recognize any subspecies of S. ater. In 2004 the name S. ater was officially adopted, but the name S. obesus is still used by some researchers. No subspecies of S. ater are currently recognized. Formerly, several subspecies of S. obesus were recognized: S. o.

multiforaminatus - Glen Canyon Chuckwalla S. o. obesus - Western Chuckwalla S. o. tumidus - Arizona Chuckwalla S. australis - Peninsular Chuckwalla, from central and southern Baja California is now part of S. ater. Alternate and Previous Names (Synonyms) Sauromalus obesus - Common Chuckwalla (Stebbins 2003) Sauromalus obesus obesus - Western Chuckwalla (Stebbins 1966, 1985) Sauromalus obesus - Northern Chuckwalla (Smith 1946) Sauromalus - Dumeril, 1856 - Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, Vol. 8, p. 535 Sauromalus obesus - Baird, 1858 - Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Vol. 10, p. 253 Meaning of the Scientific Name Sauromalus - Greek - sauros - lizard and homalos - level or flat - refers to the ability to flatten its body ater - ? Related or Similar California Lizards None.

Sometimes confused for Gila Monsters, but the differences are obvious on close inspection. More Information and References Stebbins, Robert C., and McGinnis, Samuel M. Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of California: Revised Edition (California Natural History Guides) University of California Press, 2012. Stebbins, Robert C. California Amphibians and Reptiles. The University of California Press, 1972. Stebbins, Robert C. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. 3rd Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003. Behler, John L., and F. Wayne King. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, 1992. Powell, Robert., Joseph T. Collins, and Errol D. Hooper Jr. A Key to Amphibians and Reptiles of the Continental United States and Canada. The University Press of Kansas, 1998. Bartlett, R. D. & Patricia P. Bartlett.

Guide and Reference to the Turtles and Lizards of Western North America (North of Mexico) and Hawaii. University Press of Florida, 2009. Jones, Lawrence, Rob Lovich, editors. Lizards of the American Southwest: A Photographic Field Guide. Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2009. Smith, Hobart M. Handbook of Lizards, Lizards of the United States and of Canada. Cornell University Press, 1946. Conservation Status The following status listings come from the Special Animals List and the Endangered and Threatened Animals List which are published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This common species is on the Special Animals List for some mysterious reason. There are no indications from the list that it is threatened in any way. In 2007, this lizard was legally collectable with a license. Organization Untitled Document Cage Setup As these are desert lizards, they require a desert environment. A large enclosure (100 gallon or larger) is ideal. Clean playground sand (available in 50 lb bags at hardware stores) makes an appropriate substrate when poured to a depth of 3 inches. The sand can be mixed with larger rock particles, such as clean gravel.

Flat rock for climbing basking; cholla cactus skeleton or other structure for climbing on or hiding under help vary the habitat and create microenvironments. At least one hiding area should be placed in the cool end of the enclose, and one in the warm. It is not unusual to find diurnal desert species hunkered down in a cooler burrow, cave or deep rocky crevice during the hottest part of the day. Provide such areas for your lizards to enable them to behaviorally thermoregulate as they would in the wild, which will ultimately reduce the total load of stress related to being in captivity. When using rocks or other heavy objects, place them directly on the enclosure floor, building the sandy/gravelly substrate up around them. Use aquarium silicone cement to glue the different rocks used to create mounds or caves together. Securing them in these ways will help ensure your lizard does not become mush if any of the structures collapse on them when the lizards burrow under the sand. Place a small dish of water in the coolest corner. Desert animals are adept at finding and exploiting water resources, so the chuckawalla and desert iguana will soon learn what that bowl of water is for.

Since they cannot tell you when they are thirsty, keep the bowl in there all the time. Placing the bowl on the cool side of the enclosure will help keep the overall humidity down. The creosote bush (also known as chaparral, and greasewood) plays an important roe in the desert iguana life. They eat the leaves and flowers, and burrow around the roots and rocks around the base of the plant for shelter and to avoid predators. You may be able to find seedlings for sale at plant nurseries, especially ones specializing in native flora. Since they require a rather damp rooting medium, it would be best to set the potted creosotes into the sand and cover with a layer of gravel or rock both to keep the damp in the pot and providing some support when the lizards come to eat. Additional information on plants, including suggestions for desert habitats, can be found in the Plants page. Temperatures Coming from similar environments and exploiting the same microhabitats, they both require a thermal gradient ranging from the low 80s F(26 C) on cool side up to 100 F (37 C) on the warm side.

In addition, they require a basking area of up to 110 F (46 C) to enable them to reach their preferred body temperature. At night, the basking area is shut off, and the thermal gradient is allowed to drop to the 60-high 70s F (15.6-25 C). At night, you will probably need to use an appropriate nonwhite light producing heat source to be able to provide the nighttime thermal gradient they require. Options include a nocturnal reptile light or a ceramic heating element. Note that herbivorous lizards' digestive systems start optimum working at 88-90 F, so having the proper thermal gradient established will enable them to thermoregulate to attain and maintain the temperatures they need day and night. Do not guess at the temperatures - use thermometers or other temperature reading devices to regularly monitor the warm and cool end day and night, and the basking area temperatures during the day. Lighting High need for UV lighting. Use two UVB-producing fluorescents, such as the Durotest Vita-Lite (the Powertwists provide more UV than their regular smooth tubes) or Zoo Med Reptile light (5.0+).

The UV-producing lights, as well as the daytime white light/basking lamps should be placed on a timer with a 12-14 hours on, 10-12 hours off schedule. UVB disperses quite rapidly requiring that these fixtures - with their lights not filtered through glass, plastic or dense mesh - be installed no farther than 12" from the lizard. The UVB-tube should extend across the enclosure, with the basking lamp mounted close enough to it in the warm end so that basking lizards get both the heat and UVB exposure. Diet Various sources disagree. Many of the ones that point towards any omnivory are, for the most part, based on the personal accounts by those who keep these species in captivity. Since I first developed this article in 1996, wherein I wrote: Chuckwallas: Slightly omnivorous. Leafy dark greens (collards, mustards, dandelions, escarole, parsley, grasses (pesticide free!), shredded green and orange vegetables, soft fruits, flowers such as hibiscus, roses, dandelions, nasturtium, geranium (leaves and flower heads).

Cactus pads (trimmed) and prickly pear. Insects (worms, crickets) and, for larger lizards, mouse pinks, provide occasional animal-based protein. Desert Iguanas: Herbivorous. Leafy dark greens (collards, mustards, dandelions, escarole, parsley, grasses (pesticide free!), shredded green and orange vegetables, soft fruits, flowers such as hibiscus, roses, dandelions, nasturtium, geranium (leaves and flower heads). Cactus pads (trimmed) and prickly pear. Supplement with multivitamin and calcium supplement. I have come to another conclusion, based in large part upon what I have learned about the misinformation that self-perpetuated itself through the years about green iguanas , and the research of John Iverson and others who have spent years studying iguanines. Trained observations of wild desert iguanas and chuckawallas, as well as analysis of gut contents and structure of their colon, all point to these lizards being completely herbivorous at all life stages.

However, it has been reported by some desert iguana keepers that, when coming out of hibernation, their lizards seem to require some crickets to get them interested again in eating their plant food. This doesn't necessarily make them omnivores as stress-induced behavior (and make no mistake about it: captivity is stressful, no matter how good the conditions of captivity) does not make that behavior "normal". It may mean that, in order to get a quick burst of energy, these most northern of the desert/tropical iguanids consume small amounts of animal matter, moving back to a strictly herbivorous diet a week or so out of hibernation. If anyone has research which documents omnivory, or any ontologenetic shift from carnivory or omnivory to herbivory, in wild populations (which does not include lizards lounging around tourist spots), I would be very interested in a copy of the article(s) or its citation.

Because of the problems associated with captive herbivorous reptiles getting sufficient calcium and manufacturing enough D3, the importance of properly installed UVB-producing lights in conjunction with feeding a healthy diet, and supplementing with multivitamin and calcium (especially females who may become gravid), cannot be stressed enough. Reproduction Chuckawallas: The chests, heads and limbs of the common chuckawalla males are generally black, flecked or spotted with gray. The rest of their body is red or light gray, depending on age and local, and the tail, yellow. Females tend to retain their juvenile banding. Young chucks are crossbanded around the body and tail, with the bands on the tail being most conspicuous. In Utah, all adults are banded. The male western chuckawallas have more uniformly colored crossbands and adult male body color is often suffused with red. Breeding is in April-May, with clutches of 5-16 eggs laid in June-July. Desert Iguanas: There is little in the way of sexual dimorphism in desert iguanas. Both get pinkish to buff patches on their sides when in breeding season.

Sexually mature males will have the enlarged hemipenal bulge at the base of the tail. Breeding is in April-June, with clutches of 2-8 eggs laid a month or so later, hatchlings emerging in July-August. Desert iguanas may double clutch. Both: Generally speaking, the lizards dig tunnels in which they lay their eggs. Hatchlings are 3-4 inches (7.-10 cm). Hibernation As winter sets in and temperatures become too low and food sources are greatly reduced in availability, desert reptiles head into a hibernaculum to hibernate (or brumate) through the coldest winter months. Just as being too hot can ultimately be lethal, so can being too cold, so care must be taken when altering the reptile's environment to promote a period of hibernation or brumation In general, desert lizards can withstand enclosure temperatures down to 50-55 F (10-12.8 C). If the ambient room air temperature in which the enclosure is kept falls below this temperature, supplemental heating to must be provided to ensure that temperatures do not fall below this level.

Hibernation starts somewhere in November and may extend through February/March. To ensure that the lizard does not enter the period of low temperatures with food still in its digestive system, the lizards should not be allowed to enter into hibernation/brumation after eating their usual amount of food. While wild chucks and desert iguanas have been found with some digesta still in their proximal colon, care must be taken that the gut isn't full as, during the prolonged period of cold temperatures, the gut activity slows to a stop, but decomposition of the food may occur. The change in season can be artificially provided by the gradual lowering of the hot temperatures of "summer", in combination with increasing the length of the night period and decreasing the day length, during the fall and early winter. Make sure they have water available during this time. Begin increasing day length and increasing temperatures as day length and temperatures begin to rise in the late winter/early spring. It is not known how biologically important it is for chuckawallas and desert iguanas to hibernate/brumate during the winter. Not undergoing an annual hibernation/brumation may ultimately have no effect that could result in early death or disease. Or, it might.

It may or may not have any bearing on whether the hormonal changes associated with breeding season and mating will be triggered appropriately or not. Have fresh water available for the lizard and the normal temperatures and day length ready to go for when the lizard emerges from hibernation. It is not unusual for them to be a bit sluggish for a couple of days, as their metabolism and other systems adjust to the change. Offer fresh food as well, once they are out, replacing it daily if not eaten. If they haven't started to eat by the third day or so, try offering a pungent herb or, if available, creosote leaves. This may act to stimulate feeding. Other points to keep in mind... Keep males alone or in harem groups. Femoral pore plugs used to mark territories. Secretions/rubbings detected both chemosensorily as well as visually. Tail autotomy occurs in both species. Chucks are able to evade predators by entering a rocky crevice and taking a deep breath, bloating their body size, effectively wedging themselves in the space, making it difficult to impossible for a predator (or lizard keeper) to dislodge them without deconstructing the rocks forming the crevice.

Both species, along with other desert species, should be considered species of special concern due to the continued development of desert areas for human habitation and business as well as the deleterious effects of recreational and other human noise pollution . Reference Case, Ted J. 1988. Ecology and evolution of the insular gigantic chuckawallas, Sauromalus hispidus and Sauromalus varius. In, Burghardt GM and Rand AS (eds.) Iguanas of The World: Their Behavior, Ecology and Conservation. Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ. TIGR Reptile Database Iverson, John. 1988. Adaptations to herbivory in iguanine lizards. In, Burghardt GM and Rand AS (eds.) Iguanas of The World: Their Behavior, Ecology and Conservation. Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ. Nagy, Kenneth A. 2001. Food requirements of wild animals: predictive equations for free-living mammals, reptiles, and birds. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews, Series B 71, 21R-31R. Obst, F. J., et al. 1988.

Completely Illustrated Atlas of Reptiles and Amphibians. TFH Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ. Ryan, Michael J. 1988. Variation in igunanine social organization: Mating systems in chuckawallas (Sauromalus). In, Burghardt GM and Rand AS (eds.) Iguanas of The World: Their Behavior, Ecology and Conservation. Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ. San Diego Museum of Natural History: Sauromalus ater and Dipsosaurus dorsalis . Stebbins, Robert C. 1985. Western Reptiles and Amphibians. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. Wynne, Richard H.. 1989. Lizards in Captivity. TFH Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ. Related Articles Chuckwalla Chuckwalla Adult Size: 14 to 20 inches Range: Southwestern U.S., and northwestern Mexico.

Habitat: Deserts with numerous rocks and boulders Captive Lifespan: More than 20 Years Dangerous: Care Level: Intermediate Overview Chuckwallas are pure vegetarians, specializing in an exclusive diet of desert-adapted fruits, flowers, and succulent new plant growth. In captivity chuckwallas will gladly accept an assortment of veggies and greens that other herbivorous iguanids also thrive on. Chuckwallas normally feed daily once they have basked for an hour or more to raise their body temperature minimally into the high 80s to low 90s Fahrenheit. This necessitates providing them an intense heat lamp that provides a basking area hot spot of at least 100 degrees. As desert dwellers, chuckwallas obtain nearly all of their water from the plant material they consume in quantity. An occasional misting of water may induce chuckwallas to drink the droplets from cage walls and furniture. A bowl of standing water is not necessary for this xeric species. To accommodate this bulky lizard, the cage requirements for an adult chuckwalla should extend at least 4 feet in the longest dimension. To avoid injury, use only large rocks that the chuckwalla can’t rearrange.

Handle chuckwallas gently, especially when first grasping them because that’s when they often show fright and may react harshly for a moment. In the Desert, Chuckwalla, Lizards, Reptiles, Chuckwalla Video, Female Chuckwalla, Shedding, Young. BACK A video of a chuckwalla being fed some lettuce and celery we gave her. She was a young (dark bands on the tail) lizard that we found in the first year of a bad drought. This area had hundreds of lizards during good years. For the most part they will tolerate you being around them. Just not too close. Back to the Lizard page ----- Chuckwalla lizards are sometimes very abundant, especially after wet years in the desert. Other years, during droughts, they can be hard to find. One area we visited a lot for several years (just south of Wellton, Arizona) seem to be overpopulated with them. After a bad year of no rain it got really hard to find either a Chuckwalla or a Desert Iguana here. We soon realized that the plants had not gone to seed and in fact weren't growing at all. No food, they die.

In good years we watched them eat the seeds and seed pods on plants that grew in that area. We really missed them, but after several years of drought they never came back to the area again. Chuckwalla Video Back to Lizards Many people travel in the desert and never see these well camouflaged reptiles. They are hard to see unless they are moving or out in the open. Most of the time they stay hidden to avoid predators, like the Roadrunner, Hawks, Kit Foxes or Snakes. Below is a good example of how well they can stay hidden right in plain sight. In order to find a heavily populated area you sometimes have to just sit and spend time with a good pair of binoculars scanning the rocks. Female Chuckwalla Female chuckwalla lizards are very different in appearance from the males of this species. Some lizards are hard to tell the gender, but in this case it's very easy. They lack the coloration on the main body and belly as well as the white coloration on the tail. At times the females are even harder to find than a male. Look at the enlargements for more detail and to see what is on the back of the female in the bottom photo..

Shedding, Young Here are two very young, small, Chuckwalla lizards. They were sticking together the whole time we watched them. For several hours they followed each other around. We are guessing, but we think they were probably two brothers born at the same time. We never saw them again, but the very next day we found a Roadrunner working the same area. Most, if not all lizards shed once a year. When they do it must bother them a little. The young Chuckwalla to the right was constantly watching the big pieces of skin he was shedding on his back. I can only imagine that it must also itch, at least a little. They will rub off pieces on rocks till they have their new skin. You can tell this is a young lizard by the black bands on his tail, probably a little less than one year old. The older they are the less visibly the bands are. See the enlargement for more detail. Linda never had any luck catching a full grown Chuckwalla. They are very wary. This one did let her get very close to him. Notice the gloves, they do have quite a bite. This little guy was very unhappy and even grunted a few times to let Linda know.

We released her right away so as not to cause her too much stress. This should help you find and identify this species of lizard. Chuckwalla's do get fairly big, much bigger than any of the ones shown here. Keep your eyes open. A smaller one hid in this hole in the rock. Now we should mention here that in many cases a Chuckwalla will inflate themselves so that trying to remove them from a tight spot can cause a bad injury to the lizard. This hole was too big for this to happen, so no harm could come from this, to the lizard anyway. Knowing what the different lizard's feces looks like will often times tell you who's living in a specific area of the desert and what they're eating. The white material laying there that has mostly turned to liquid is urine. Lizard's expel a solid form of urine to conserve water in their bodies. It does melt in the heat. This is feces from a Chuckwalla. ( Sauromalus ater )

Question: What type of animal is a Chuckwalla?
Answer: Lizard